Month: January 2009

Expect Great Things From Colorado’s Next Senator

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Colorado’s newest — and the country’s youngest — senator, Michael Bennet

Michael Bennet will be the youngest senator when he steps up to replace Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar, chosen to be Pres.-Elect Obama’s secretary of the interior. At 44, Bennet, a former lawyer and businessman, was passed over as Obama’s education secretary despite legendary success as superintendent of the Denver school system.

From 2005 to 2008, Denver students made strong improvements in reading, math, writing and science. In reading, the district posted a 6.2% increase over the three years, more than four times the growth of the state. In math, Denver saw a 6% gain, more than twice the growth of the state. In the middle grades, Denver saw gains of 10% in reading and 9% in math…

Full day kindergarten slots were also increased by 25% which means that over 90% of the children in Denver Public Schools, as five year olds, currently have access to full day kindergarten.

After five years and $83 million in budget cuts equaling almost 20% of the operating budget, Denver has balanced its budget without cuts for two consecutive years and is investing additional funds into its schools and departments.

Gosh, is there anything this guy can’t do? Wait, there’s more. Bennet looks like he has a good chance at maintaining the seat when he eventually stands for election.

Bennet was able to convincingly sell [Colorado Gov. Bill] Ritter on his experience and strengths in business, education and as a former lawyer at the U.S. Department of Justice. And his numerous contacts to high-profile and powerful people indicated he had impressive fundraising potential, according to a source close to the governor.

If he does win in 2010, it will be the whiz kid’s first election victory. Bennet has never run for office before, a detail some Colorado Democrats consider important.

Still, if pedigrees and past performance mean anything, Bennet looks pretty good.

Bennet, educated in private schools, graduated from Wesleyan University in Connecticut before attending law school at Yale. His brother James is editor of Atlantic Monthly and his father, Douglas, was president of Wesleyan University, former president of National Public Radio and assistant secretary of state for international organization affairs in the Clinton administration.

Bennet is married to environmental attorney Susan Daggett. They have three daughters and live in Denver.

Quote du Jour

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“A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go but ought to be.”

— Rosalynn Carter (1927- ), former First Lady, author, and mental health advocate

Stampede! Elephants Flee D.C. Ahead of Inauguration

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Politico:

“What better way to mark the Obama Inauguration (and his millions of adoring fans that will be in DC) than to get out of town to fabulous Las Vegas!” wrote Charlie Spies, a Republican lawyer and former CFO to Mitt Romney’s campaign in a blast email to GOP friends. “We hope you can join us for dinner and a fun evening on Monday, January 19th to celebrate the last few hours of our Republican president in the White House.”

Spies and his wife Lisa, a Republican fund-raiser, have gotten about 15 takers so far for this last supper or, as they billed it in the e-mail, their own “Inaugural in Exile.”

They’re far from alone. Other [Republicans] will usher in the new era from the slopes, the islands, the NFL playoffs and even on a serendipitously-timed honeymoon. Full Democratic control of Washington may be a bitter pill, but it’s easier to get down from a lodge, beach, 50-yard-line or, especially, honeymoon suite.

If only they would just stay gone.